Earlier this month, the county lost a community bedrock when William Thomas Sigman, 95, passed away. The Social Circle native and World War II veteran had a fierce regard for the town he called home for 75 years where he raised his family and founded one of Conyers’ oldest businesses, Sigman-Mills furniture. His daughter Carol Mills said he had a "deep care and concern and love for this community — it was his heart."

Sigman exhibited his esteem in highly personal ways. After a draining hospice visit, Mills stopped by Wal-Mart, and the cashier related a story of how Sigman had arranged heating for her home during a low point in life. "He genuinely cared about people," said Mills, a theme expressed by many such stories shared at his memorial, "It’s amazing how many people he touched…no one escaped his notice." Even when he had little to give and in a time before furniture financing was an industry norm, Sigman gave furniture on terms so customers would pay him back when they could without interest.

He had an early start in community goodwill missions. Mills said as a young boy he would run many miles from his family farm to the town’s one-room schoolhouse early enough to light the fire so it would be warm when everyone arrived. Amazingly, at age 12, Sigman arranged a bank loan helping his parents keep their farm. He paid the loan off by working at a mill.

Lifelong friend and fellow First Baptist Church of Conyers deacon Roland Reagan said Sigman would pick him up before shifts in a Henson Furniture truck at his home on Main Street and drive him to the depot in Covington so he could catch a train to Emory at Oxford. This he did for a year enabling Reagan to continue his education abbreviated by the war. "Above all, he was a fine, Christian gentleman and an astute businessman," he said.

The 83-year-old Reagan and Sigman were members of the Last Men Standing Club, a group of Rockdale World War II veterans. When they organized, Judge Sidney Nation presented them with a bottle of French cognac with the idea of the last surviving member drinking to his fallen comrades. "Tom nor I are drinking men, but if I am the last one, I’m going to do it," said Reagan.

Before serving as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain in the Army Air Corps, Sigman had a memorable brush with Hollywood royalty — a treasured experience according to Mills. While an Emory University student before the war, he was chosen as an usher for the legendary Atlanta premiere of "Gone with the Wind" at the Fox Theatre. During the event, he lifted the actress Olivia de Havilland from the ground onto the stage.

Mills credits her father’s sense of purpose and positivity with yielding a long, productive life. "Military service added a layer to his own regimented nature," she said, "He had a wonderful, full active life even into his elder years which was a blessing."

Sigman was preceded in death by his wife of 61-years Miriam Dell Stanley. He is survived by his sons William Thomas Sigman Jr. and wife Guadalupe H. Sigman of Fredericksburg, Va.; David Patrick Sigman of Blairsville; daughter Carol Mills and her husband Randy Mills of Conyers; his grandchildren Gretchen Sigman of San Diego, Calif.; Steven Mills of Los Angeles; and Caroline Mills of Conyers. Contributions may be made to the Children’s Development Center, First Baptist Church of Conyers, 2100 Highway 138 NE, Conyers, GA 30013.